HM Treasury

Bank of England Appointment

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: My honourable friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Harriett Baldwin) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.The Chancellor has announced that Sam Woods has been appointed as the next Chief Executive of the Prudential Regulation Authority. Sam will succeed Andrew Bailey on 1 July 2016, who has been appointed the Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority. He will build on Andrew’s work in delivering a strong, secure and globally competitive regime for all financial services.


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Department of Health

The Food Standards Agency's Triennial Review of Six Scientific Advisory Committees - Final Report

Lord Prior of Brampton: My hon. friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Jane Ellison) has made the following Written Statement: On 10 September 2015, I announced (HCSW183) the commencement of the triennial review by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for the six Scientific Advisory Committees (SACs) for which the FSA is the sole or lead sponsor. The six Committees are: the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF); the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF); the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP); the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT); the General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS); and the Social Science Research Committee (SSRC). The FSA reviewed all six bodies as a cluster, which provided a more efficient review process, and allowed the review to consider any gaps or overlaps in the Committees’ functions and opportunities for efficiencies in their operation. The FSA consulted widely with relevant stakeholders, including Government departments and agencies, the Devolved Administrations and others with an interest in the work of the Committees. The FSA also completed an open call for evidence so that all those with an interest could contribute. I am grateful to all those who contributed to the review.I am now pleased to announce the completion of the review and publication of the final report.The review made eight recommendations which, in summary, concluded that:The functions performed by the ACMSF and COT are still required and they should be retained as advisory non-departmental public bodies;The advisory risk assessment functions of the ACNFP and the ACAF should be replaced with a new committee which would retain any future functions required from these two Committees within the framework of a wider remit on innovation in the food chain;The FSA should follow similar models in other Government departments with external Chief Scientific Advisers and replace the GACS (established in 2007 to provide independent advice and challenge to FSA’s then internal Chief Scientist) with a Science Council;The SSRC should review its future work programme and membership to provide strategic support, scientific advice and challenge which will inform the FSA in delivery of its strategic objectives and help it understand its impact, reflecting the priorities in the new FSA Strategic Plan;The three FSA Committees, the SSRC, the new Committee on Innovation in the Food Chain and the new FSA Science Council, should continue to operate openly and transparently as expert committees for the FSA; andA number of areas of good practice were also identified by the review, and a further four recommendations are made about how to improve the efficiency and impact of the SACs work and to ensure they continue to meet the highest standards of governance.The FSA will now discuss and determine how the recommendations can be implemented.The final report of the review is attached.



FSA Triennial Review Report
(PDF Document, 577.05 KB)





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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Foreign Affairs Council and General Affairs Council: 14–15 February 2016

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: My Right Honourable Friend, the Minister for Europe (David Lidington), has made the following written Ministerial statement:My Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs attended the Foreign Affairs Council on 14 March and I attended the General Affairs Council on 15 March. The Foreign Affairs Council was chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and the General Affairs Council was chaired by the Dutch Presidency. The meetings were held in Brussels.Foreign Affairs CouncilA provisional report of the meeting and Conclusions adopted can be found at:http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/fac/2016/03/14/In her introductory remarks Ms Mogherini briefed Foreign Ministers on her recent visits to Cuba and Argentina, the EU role on the International Syria Support Group and on external aspects of the migration crisis.RussiaThe Council took stock of EU-Russia relations, in a discussion which took place shortly before the announcement of the partial withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria.As part of the discussion, Ms Mogherini proposed five guiding principles for the EU’s policy towards Russia: (i) full implementation of the Minsk Agreements as a key element for any substantial change; (ii) strengthening relations with Eastern Partners and other neighbours, including Central Asia; (iii) strengthening the EU’s resilience; (iv) selective engagement where there is a clear EU interest to engage; and (v) strengthening people to people contacts and support to civil society.Ministers supported the guiding principles. The Foreign Secretary argued for a united EU position. I It was not in our interests to isolate Russia, but sanctions remained necessary and effective; and this was not the time to change tack. The Foreign Secretary added the EU should continue to hold Russia to account when it violated international norms.IranThe Council discussed relations with Iran and possible areas of reengagement following the adoption of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the lifting of all nuclear-related EU sanctions. Ms Mogherini briefed ministers on her planned trip to Tehran in April, where she will be accompanied by a delegation of Commissioners, which will explore different areas of cooperation with Iran. The Foreign Secretary made clear that, while much progress has been made, we continued to have concerns (for example in relation to Iran’s human rights record) and that it was important to pursue a careful and balanced approach to reengagement.LibyaOver lunch, Foreign Ministers exchanged views with the United Nations Secretary General’s special representative for Libya, Martin Kobler, on recent developments in Libya.Middle East Peace ProcessThe Council discussed the latest developments in the region including an update from Ms Mogherini on plans by the Middle East Quartet to prepare a report with recommendations for de-escalating the violence and promoting a two-state solution. The Council also discussed an initiative led by France to convene an international conference in Paris by the summer of 2016 with the aim relaunching the peace process in the Middle East. Ms Mogherini and a number of Member States supported the initiative.Ministers agreed without discussion a number of measures:The Council adopted conclusions on the Central African Republic.The Council adopted conclusions on the European Court of Auditors’ Special Report: ‘ACP-EU Energy facility support for renewable energy in East Africa’.The Council concluded consultation with Burundi under article 96 of the EU-ACP Partnership Agreement (Cotonou Agreement).The Council adopted a decision amending restrictive measure against members of the Al-Qaida organisation and other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them.The Council approved a Crisis Management Concept (CMC) for a possible EU military training mission in the Central African Republic.The Council adopted the updated version of the common military list of the EU, which acts as a reference point for Member States’ national military technology and equipment lists.The Council took note of the Seventeenth Annual Report, which defines common rules governing the control of exports of military technology and equipment.General Affairs CouncilA provisional report of the meeting and Conclusions adopted can be found at:http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/gac/2016/03/14/The General Affairs Council (GAC) on 15 March focussed on preparation of the March European Council, the Inter-Institutional Agreement on Better Regulation, European Semester and Cohesion Policy.Preparation of the March European CouncilThe GAC discussed the agenda for the European Council on 17-18 March, which the Prime Minister attended. The agenda covered migration and European Semester and outcomes of the February European Council.On migration, I welcomed the outcomes of the EU-Turkey Summit and emphasised that more work needed to be done before Leaders could reach agreement at the March European Council. I highlighted the need for a more strategic approach to stop people smuggling and dissuade migrants from using the Aegean route.Inter-Institutional Agreement on Better Regulation (IIA)The Council formally adopted the IIA text and will focus on implementation at the May GAC and June European Council. The agreement now needs to be officially signed by the Commission, Parliament and Council and shall enter into force on the day of its signature.European SemesterThe Council welcomed the Synthesis report which summarises the results of this year’s European Semester process. The Presidency led an exchange of views on the importance of good governance for driving the successful implementation of the Semester’s recommendations.Cohesion Policy – Investing in Jobs and GrowthCommissioner Creţu presented the Commission report (Investing in jobs and growth – maximising the contribution of European Structural and Investment Funds) which summarised the expected results over the 2014-2020 period. She called for a debate on simplification, which would feed into the mid-term review of the Multi-Annual Financial Framework and the larger debate on the future of cohesion policy.Under AOB, the Presidency informed the Council that the Informal GAC, 11-12 April, would focus on coherence of the Council’s work and how it fits with follow-up to the European Council as well as follow-up to the Multi-Annual Financial Framework seminar held in February.The next formal GAC will take place on 24 May, and will focus on follow-up to the March European Council, preparation for the June European Council, Rule of Law, and Better Regulation.


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National Counter Proliferation Strategy to 2020

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: My Honourable Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary for State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Tobias Ellwood), has made the following written Ministerial statement:The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is today publishing a public version of the National Counter Proliferation Strategy to 2020.Following the publication of the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 the 2012-2015 National Counter Proliferation Strategy has been updated to guide the UK’s counter proliferation activity until 2020.The overall aim of the National Counter Proliferation Strategy to 2020 is to prevent the spread or further development of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear capability or advanced military technology which could threaten UK interests or regional stability. The revised Strategy broadly follows the same lines of action as over the previous five years, but has been restructured and updated to take account of new developments. It focuses UK action around three strands:influencing the intent of others, as the most effective way of controlling capabilities;controlling access globally to the materials and knowledge that would allow a hostile state or terrorist group to act on that intent; andidentifying and disrupting illicit attempts to circumvent these controls.The UK will work closely with allies, deploying our diplomatic, intelligence, law enforcement and scientific expertise to tackle these challenges.The delivery of the Counter Proliferation Strategy is a cross-government effort led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and overseen by the National Security Council.The strategy will be published on the GOV.UK website.


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Department for Communities and Local Government

Local Council Tax Support

Baroness Williams of Trafford: My rt. Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Greg Clark) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.On 2 December 2015 Marcus Jones MP announced the appointment of Eric Ollerenshaw OBE to lead an independent review into Local Council Tax Support schemes.The review was charged with meeting the requirements set out in the Local Government Finance Act 2012, to look at whether the schemes are efficient, effective, fair and transparent.The review follows the reform of Council Tax benefit to give councils the power to design their own schemes according to their local needs. It has looked at how this change has been implemented, what it has meant for local areas, and whether it should be part of the Universal Credit payments in the future.The review has now concluded and its final report has been submitted to me. The independent report recognises the successful implementation of LCTS schemes by local government.I have placed a copy in the House library.


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Coastal Communities Fund Second Annual Progress Report

Baroness Williams of Trafford: My rt. Hon Friend Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Mark Francois) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement on 24 March.I am pleased to announce the publication of the Coastal Communities Fund Annual Progress Report 2015.The report sets out the impressive achievements of the Fund across the UK since it was launched in 2012. It shows the many and varied ways our coastal and seaside towns are rising to the challenges they face to diversify and transform their economies, and strengthen their appeal as places to live, work and visit.Over 200 projects supported by the Fund UK-wide have received £120 million to date and are also attracting significant amounts of co-funding, over £200 million so far. As the report highlights, every £1 we invest has the potential to create a boost of up to £8 to our coastal economies.The recent decision to extend the Fund by a further £90 million over four years to 2020-21, will help secure the long-term future of our seaside towns so communities can drive forward their vision, unleash business opportunities and prosperity. The next round of bidding will commence in the summer of 2016.I have today written to all Coastal MPs in the UK, and to all 118 Coastal Community Teams in England, with a web link to the published report.The report can be found on the gov.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coastal-communities-fund-annual-progress-report-2015I have placed a copy in the Library of the House. 


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Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Companies House public targets 2016/17

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Companies HouseI have set Companies House the following targets for the year 2016/17:  Public Targets To e-enable 96% by volume of all Companies House transactions To achieve an 85% take up of our transactions To maintain an availability of our digital services of 99.9% To reach a compliance level for the filing of accounts of at least 94.5% To achieve a 3.5% reduction in average costs per company To achieve a customer satisfaction score of at least 82%  


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